Monday, August 31, 2015

Anyone who has ever wondered how The dBs would sound if they took up social satire should listen to Larry O. Dean's new CD Good Grief. A published author as well as a singer-songwriter, the Chicago-based Dean has been working the outer edges of the rock scene over the course of 13 solo albums and with the bands The Injured Parties and Post Office. He recruited dBs founder Chris Stamey to produce Good Grief (Stamey had previously produced a Post Office effort) with the result being a dozen songs filled with acerbic observations, jangling guitars, and catchy melodies.

Dean's approach can range from the light and clever "(Driving) Under The Influence (Of Love)" to the disturbing "Sniper," which is from the point of view of an American soldier forced into the title role. Dean is assisted here by guitarist George Friend, drummer Lance Helgeson, bassist Dann Morr, and vocalist Amy Russell. Occasionally, his distinctive, talky vocal style can oversell the humor, as on "Botox Party," and it also diminishes an otherwise slinky and fun cover of the Translator classic "Everywhere That I'm Not."

Dean is at his best when his barbed lyrics are matched with more energetic arrangements. The first single, "Americans For Prosperity" takes aim at money-grabbing corporate kingpins, while "Mad In The U.S.A." delivers a rapid-fire attack on HMOs ("It's all the same if you're dying or you're fine") and other frustrating aspects of American society. Good Grief will be released on September 25.

1 comments:

Thanks for the review, Terry! Just for the record (pun intended): "Americans for Prosperity" is a standalone single that was released August 28th; it's included as a bonus track with download of the CD. Dann and Amy contribute to the single, but Lance (along with Howie Kantoff) also plays drums on the album, along with George on guitar and a host of others also contributing. Good Grief was produced by Chris but the single was self-produced. Just dotting my I's and crossing my T's -- appreciate the review, and take care!

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About This Blog

Broken Hearted Toy is an eclectic celebration of creativity, with over 2,000 posts since 2009.

It's based in Chicago but covers power pop, garage, cutting-edge, and 1960s rock from around the globe; along with occasional bits on art; literature; and theatre.

Top of the hill is a nice place to be at. - - - "Elevated Observations" by The Hollies.

Check out some of my previoius creative endeavors.

Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff was a weekly Internet show created by and starring Jeff Kelley. It mostly consisted of comedy bits and obscure 1960s garage rock set to vintage TV and film clips but also spotlighted entertainment events around Illinois.

My wife Pam and I created a handful of series (each episode was about two minutes long) that were shown on Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. They included Manchester Gallery (see description below); Old Days, which I hosted in the persona of a cranky old man named Fritz Willoughby; Roving Reporter, where I played the clueless title character; What's With Terry?, a performance arts program; and Hanging With The Hollies, a takeoff on Breakfast With The Beatles.

I've also worked with Kelley and Willy Deal on comedy clips, and with Kelley and David Metzger on films for the annual Nightmare on Chicago Street Halloween festival in Elgin.

I'm particularly proud of this 21-episode comedy series Pam and I created for Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Each installment was a few minutes long, and featured me portraying Terrence, the curator of a pop culture museum.

I was a staff writer for this Chicago-based magazine from 1987 to 2015. The Illinois Entertainer has been covering rock music for over 40 years, and can be found in stores and entertainment venues, as well as in an online edition.

Chicago Art Machine was a web-based publishing company run by Editor-in-Chief, Kathryn Born, and Managing Editor, Robin Dluzen, that included Chicago Art Magazine, Chicago DIY Film,Chicago Performance And Trailers, and TINC. Most of my submissions appeared in Chicago DIY Film and Chicago Performance And Trailers, although I contributed to all the online Chicago Art Machine publications.

I was a writer and performer with this local comedy group from 1989 to 2009. Famous In The Future continues to perform in the Chicago area, and appeared at every one of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sinstheatre festivals that were held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Since the closing of the Mary-Arrchie Theatre a few years ago, Famous In The Future has carried on the tradition by presenting Yippie Fest each year in August.

I'm an active member of SCBWI, (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and have written two Middle Grade fantasy novels. I've just finished a YA/paranormal novel, and also wrote a suspense/satiric novel that takes place amidst Chicago's alternative music scene in the mid-1980s.

Broken Hearted Toy

The blog title comes from the line, "I'm the brokenhearted toy you play with" in the song "I Can't Let Go" by The Hollies. One of the great original British Invasion bands, The Hollies continue to have an immense influence on power pop bands to this day, and have finally been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is a video of "I Can't Let Go" being performed in 1966.